Gene Coffee Bar

Yuck. Rarely is there an undrinkable coffee. The cortado was awful. Burnt espresso and flat milk. Skip this place.

One of my fav spots in Mt. Pleasant. Bright and clean and great starting point to wander the neighbourhood.

I liked the pie shaped venue, and I loved their tasty vegan wrap. The service was quick and friendly. The price was reasonable and I like those big bright windows.

Great little cafe, good location, nice cortado. Lacking a bit on the food front but honestly, there’s so much food around you may as well just go eat elsewhere and that’s not a big deal.

An Indigenous woman came in to Gene desperate to use the washroom. The community center was unexpectedly closed, and she could not wait. She offered to buy a coffee after using the washroom, but was turned away. In her desperation, she had to urinate on the street in full view of everyone. I wrote expressing my concern that this happened. This was the owner's response:

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"Thank you for emailing me. I am sorry to hear about the specific situation, and first of all I would like to apologize to you and to the indigenous woman who had the poor experience.

"I can clarify that our store policy is that our washroom is for customer only. While I understand that many would prefer to use the washroom prior to making a purchase, we have experienced too many instances where individuals who would first use the washroom, only to vandalize and damage our properties and subsequently simply walking away. As a result, I have unfortunately established the policy where a purchase is required prior to using the washroom, regardless of any gender and ethnicity. We typically recommend to the general public who do not wish to make a purchase first, to use the public washroom in the Mount Pleasant Community Centre across the street.

"I once again apologize that we failed to explain our policy in the situation to the woman, but I do want to clarify that we do not treat any individuals differently because of their gender or ethnicity. In fact, I and many of the baristas working in the shop are visible minority and would not want to be treated differently because of our ethnicity.

"Thank you for sending me the Instagram of the indigenous woman and I will connect with the lady to apologize to her.

"Best regards,
Johnny
Owner of Gene Coffee

Lacking the generous spirits of Canadian. Should chill out a bit more if you’re opening cafe here, in Canada. Take a look at the replies for each review, no apologies but excuse. Why don’t you give washroom access to customers before ordering when they claimed that they gonna order right after coming back? Why don’t you give a cup of water for free when the tap water is clean in Vancouver? Why you’re so mean? What’s wrong with you? Chill out a bit more also to the employees cause the owners demand too high standard for minimum wage. The staff needs to operate the cafe alone most of the times, which makes the customer service even worse, so that the owner can reduce labor cost. Again, this is CANADA.

Quiet expensive corner and the inside needs a retouch. Ceiling is falling apart. I ask for drip coffee and girl told me NO more coffee at 4pm. Weird because expensive coffees were available. I got a cortado which it taste ok.

This shop is a small and simple operation, which isn't what I'm usually drawn to, but they nailed it for me today. I came to try the Polish Pillow! It's a unique drink - the taste is not quite the same as coffee but very similar, and the raspberry and almond flavour is very nice, not too sweet. I'm pretty sensitive to caffeine so I'm glad this is caffeine free! I also had their vegan wrap and a cranberry pecan spice cookie for my lunch while I was here, both of which were very satisfying. The typical coffee shop jumbo cookie is bigger than I usually want so I like that they sell small cookies designed to accompany a drink here (there are bigger ones too).
The staff was polite, and everything I ordered was presented very neatly which was a nice touch. It's not the trendiest coffee shop, but I found the unpretentious vibe to be very approachable and refreshing.

(editing to add time period when it happened for the owner: Jan 28, between 10: 45AM - 11: 30AM, likely happened little after 11AM. You can check your cameras if you have any)

Everything was great until we saw staff dropping 2 croissants on the floor, picking them up and putting them back into the showcase container on the counter.coffee and atmosphere was great, so 2 stars instead of 1, but will not return.

Love Gene coffee, but the lines are getting too long. One poor girl has to deal with everything, including online orders. Hire more staff please:)

A couple years ago I was there and they kicked a young guy out because last time he was there he made a mess pouring himself water. The guy wasn’t doing anything wrong and I know the guy from the neighbourhood. Stopped going there for a few years because of how much it rubbed me the wrong way. Started going again on pretty regular basis. Today I told them I was waiting for my girlfriend to order. After a couple minutes needed to use the bathroom they said I had to order first to use it. It’s like you don’t recognize me I come in all the time and my stuff is at a table to stay. Don’t go to places that don’t have human decency. Most places would let me use the washroom even if I said hey I’m not ordering I just need to use the washroom.

Never have had a good cup of coffee here so i Ordered an iced tea but it was so poorly made that it was basically a $6 ice water lol my bad - staff ran off to the back before i could ask to remake it too.don’t bother w this spot unless you are in a pinch i guess.

I got their Croissant sandwich, but as you can see, it was burnt and didn’t worth it at all! Such a disappointment!

I am hard worker guy. And I work with instacart grocery delivery. And as much these people work hard and deserve tip i do as well. They ordered heavy order this morning from Cotco with zero tip they didn’t even give one penny.
If I ever go to this place I would never tip them and wouldn’t suggest people do.

Always passed by gene, but never came in! Stopped by today to do some studying, had a great experience.barista/cashier was really nice and there is of course convenient outlets and wi-fi! Great space to study, they got some spacious tables.the interior is rustic and minimalistic, with a cool triangle shape of a building.def my new go-to study spot!

I've been here a couple times in the past few months, both times the staff give off cold stares and snappy questions, and treat people who look like they make less than 20k a year like they're parasitic! I usually give the benefit of the doubt, maybe someone was having a tough day. But I noticed two white men come in, separately, and the staff behind the counter were incredibly sweet and polite. Higher pitches, smiling eyes, and overall noticeably better treatment. I also recieved a burnt croissant as if it was supposed to go into my stomach, and not the trash before the next one was warmed up.
When I asked the staff if this was the croissant that I had ordered toasted, (genuinely confused as to what happened to the poor burnt pastry) she just gave me a “yes”, brief and as if I was being difficult for wasting her time further by asking about my croissant. I later had to throw the croissant out after salvaging the inside as this was the first solid food I’d previously hoped to ingest. As I went to throw it out I told the staff it was burnt, but that it was okay as I didn’t want to bother her further, but also wanting to say something after paying for a burnt croissant.
She promtly replied “Could you please put the dish here? Thanks” and walked away. I stayed in the cafe for a little while more to finish some schoolwork and observed the customers who would come in and if they were going to receive the same treatment as me.
There happened to be one other person in line, it was not a busy day in the week but a lazy Sunday.
As a barista/server myself, I've never handed someone a burnt croissant and expected them to enjoy it.
The only thing that I could gather after thinking about this over and over is that maybe, it was because when I came in I had bought a couple coffees for some folks outside the cafe, and when one of them came in to retrieve it, they were welcomed with long pauses and bewildered expressions. Maybe I just happened to represent something resentful for the staff. Ultimately, the reason is unknown.

I don’t doubt that the management and staff are in agreement over a differential, and rather cold/inhumane treatment towards people who may be displaced, so this is just to provide some reassurance to anyone who may have seen similar treatment, that they are not just assuming the worst, and that yes, the staff do have polar opposite treatment based on your race, gender, income.
The reply by the owner below, is largely irrelevant and has wasted 2 minutes of my lifetime that I will never get back. Just like the burnt croissant I was forced to nibble on (around the un-burnt parts mind you) with a side of classis "vancouver" classism.

My fave coffee shop in the neighbourhood. Staff are always pleasant and the espresso is ridiculously good.

I keep coming back because I absolutely love the mochas served here. Its rich and dark with a hint of sweet. Area that I find lacking is the customer service.

Space is a little run down compared to the competition in the immediate vicinity.they offer the normal espresso drinks.if you want a humble place with humble coffee, this is the place for you.

Love the café, the staff, the food and drink, but cannot stand the smokers who congregate on the benches outside. The smell wafting into the café is headache inducing, and they're typically not even customers so I'm not sure why they're tolerated (though even if they were customers it's still in violation of smoking bylaws given the proximity to windows and doorways).

Otherwise, consistently one of my favourite places.

Edit: Appreciate the response!

Even after travelling to countries known for their fine coffee I still can't wait to get back to Gene for their coffee! This coffee is from Casa del Caffe and is amazing complex for an Italian traditional roast. It is firstly strong and full but not bitter and never leaving the palate for long. The boldness quickly turns to peppery complexities and the word chocolate seems to involve the finish. Yes I love Gene coffee and the current owners have taken great care to make tastefully positive changes to the unique environment and espresso making machinery. About ten years ago after returning form Spain I told the current owner about the Cortado drinks there and they quickly added it to the drink list. Nothing finer on a rainy Vancouver morning our afternoon!

I am a big fan of searching for the best espresso in any place that I visit. Gene was sub-par and left much to be desired. The espresso was sour and under-extracted. The vibe was cute though, this place’s only redeeming quality.

I love this coffee shop, you get to see traffic from main/kingsway joing you with awesome time. I hope this construction get done fast. This is my go to places every morning:)

I too am wondering if management has changed? This use to be my favourite coffee in the area. When i went the other day and ordered a pretty standard coffee (iced americano, half water, milk and simple syrup), the woman preparing my coffee practically had an aneurysm over accommodating my request, insisting that i had to order an iced espresso because i wasn't adding enough water to my americano, then saying i had to pay for an iced latte because i was adding milk. (?) Honestly i'm paying four bucks for a coffee and i don't feel like i'm requesting anything crazy, but the woman behind the bar made my order feel like a huge headache. No where else has ever had a literal hissy fit over making my coffee order, lol, and there are many other coffee shops around so i probably won't be here again. Shame because this use to be my go-to in the neighbourhood.

Pre-pandemic, this was one of the best places to people watch and sit and have a coffee. Even during the pandemic, Gene is one of the best places to get an espresso in Vancouver. Go. Support them. This is a place that needs to make it through.

I don't normally write reviews but the overpriced espresso tasted like eating a spoonful of old coffee beans.

The only positive thing to say about this establishment is the building is uniquely shaped?

Save your money, go down the street to someplace actually good.

The place is nice, the employees are awesome, the vibe of the coffee is very unique.

The only downside is that the coffee is on the burned side.

Such a unique location! Lots of big windows, you could definitely spend a few hours people watching or catching some rays. Their Americano hit the spot and the staff is super friendly. Will have to come back for the food! They seem to have gluten free and vegan options for baked goods.

Really small space. Hot chocolate with soy milk tasted like warm soy milk with a hint of cocoa powder.

Seemed like a pretty hip place to hangout and order coffee, I decided to order a Chia Latte and got a warmed semi sweet milk, defiantly not a chai. Super disappointing, won't be back

Delightful little place! Kinda hard to know where to stand during COVID, but it's not their fault the room is triangular. Try the Polish Pillow latte for sure! Best caffeine-free beverage I've had in a long time.

One of my favourite cafes in the city. Great americanos and snacks, in a bright beautiful, vintage, pie-shaped building. It’s simply one of those stops along the road that makes the day better. (It can’t seem to shake a reputation for being the quintessential example of a cold, too-hip-4-u Main Street cafe. I’ll admit it WAS true, but certainly hasn’t been the case in years. Don’t listen to the nay-sayers.)

There must me new management, because I don't know how this place has good reviews. Their drinks are overpriced and there service is terrible. The staff are rude and cold, and anyone I've spoken to has had the same experience. I'm lactose intolerant and when the barista made a mistake by adding milk they made me pay for another drink which was $6 to begin with. Do not recommend, shame cuz it's in such a nice location.

I was suspicious of the location of this coffee shop, but I managed to get quite a bit of work done. I was impressed. Bright, but somewhat noisy because of the traffic.

Friendly baristas, professional clean establishment good coffee, real (dairy) milk or cream. Not so focussed on food / breakfast lunch, but basic croissants some pastries most foremost offered and of good quality. Good WiFi internet!

Great service, pretty uncomfortable/awkward seating and my latte was half foam.nice that there are plenty of outlets though!

Good, but there was amore mature lady that (the owner or supervisor) who had too much attitudes. Also, there was an unpleasant smell in the coffeeshop. The coffee was good.

For the rona days, this cafe is doing great for the community by staying open. Friendly barista, quick service. And still has some baked goods:)

I have a soft spot in my heart for this little coffee shop. They were here before a lot of the newer additions to this neighborhood and although the seating is a little uncomfortable, the coffee is always great and the vibe feels authentic.

Gorgeous view, good coffee snacks (plenty of vegan options as well) and tasty coffee. Rotating selection of interesting beverages, coffee and otherwise.

Great coffee but their paper cups leak. I ordered a large Americano and the drink started leaking down the side of the cup - thankfully it wasn't that hot at that point. I went back and asked for a new cup and lid, they kindly replaced it and then the same leaking happened again after I left the cafe.

They have the best coffee I had ever tasted! Most coffee give me the runs but this is out of this world. Highly recommended this place, reason why it’s not 5 star because no much space.

This is my favourite café ever. My wife pretends gene is my lover, "Oh, I see, you're going to your gene. " she says. All of the staff are wonderful, and are very kind hearted and also conscientious about keeping the place just right and serving excellent coffee. Honestly, and this is probably pretty strange, but it is one of the main things keeping me in Vancouver and it brings so much to the city. I worry that one day it will be knocked down like Benny's or lobotomized like Our Town. There is so much good seating considering how small it is and interesting people come here. My only complaint is that they close too early but nevertheless I'm so grateful for this place.

My latte tasted like they used an old dish rag to soak up a coffee spill and then rang it out into my mug and stuck it in the microwave. I've never had a more disgusting $5 drink and I've been known to drink airport vending machine swill.

Coffee is average, environment and atmosphere is great, a nice place to watch people or doing some works.

Went inside this coffee shop for a cup of coffee after a long tiring day. I had to use the washroom and wash my hands, I asked the asian girl at the counter to let me use the washroom before I choose what to order. She replied in a very rude way that the washroom is only for customers. I told her that I will place an order once I am done but she repeated the same sentence in a very rude and ignorant way. While she was talking to me, I noticed that she scratched her armpits twice but didn’t wash her hands at all. I decided not to order anything at this filthy, unhygienic place. I went down the block at another coffee shop (our town) and had a cup of coffee there.

Delicious meat pie and salad (with homemade honey & mustard sauce that was so good!) Super open with a lot of natural light and a selection of big tables to read, study, or to chat! It's very adorable! I'll be back, I'm sure!

Gene has the potential to be a bustling and vibrant cafe and I think in time it will be that again. However I'm not feeling the "it's too cool" theme of other reviews. Gene doesn't seem to be overcompensating or trying too hard.

Location is great if you're a people watcher.

Music is mixed and kinda fun.

Decor is plain and could use a breath of life; hang something, plant something.anything really.

Coffee has punch (I had a Cortado).

I don't agree it's trying to hard to be hipster. It attracts all sorts of people. Nothing would seem to reinforce that is is trying all that hard to appeal to a certain demo.

Free wifi.

I don't think the terse barista spoken about works here now, at least I've never seen her.

Overall, yum and if you like coffee dark and bold, with punch, hopefully yours is as good as mine. Certainly not a 3.9 / 5 cafe. They use Casa Del coffee from East Van.

Original epicentre for hipster revamp of Main St back 'int day. Light bright coffee shop, plenty of outlets, good choices of snacks and good coffee. Only gripe are the single pane windows flanking all sides so it gets super-cold.